Canadian TV Series Reach Milestone

Two of Canadia’s most successful television shows reach significant milestones next week.

Degrassi: The Next Generation and Corner Gas will broadcast their respective season finales; for Degrassi, it not only marks the conclusion of its fifth and most successful season to date, but the 100th episode of the series, an elusive milestone few Canadian series reach.

Corner Gas meanwhile is heading into its Season 3 finale, and while it is ready to notch its 50th episode as a series, it is also about to record its 50th consecutive million-plus audience, an otherwise unprecedented milestone in today’s Canadian television landscape. In its entire three-season run, no original episode of Canada’s most-watched series has ever delivered an audience below one million viewers.

The only Canadian scripted series in the Top 20, Corner Gas established itself as one of television’s most-watched comedy while Degrassi is known as one of Canada’s most watched homegrown drama series.

“We’re so proud of the overwhelming success of our entire Canada program slate and Monday’s milestones are two more reasons to celebrate,” said
Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group. “Congratulations to our independent production partners at Epitome
Pictures, Prairie Pants Productions, Vrit Films and Three Thirty-Five Productions for reaching new heights. We’re with you all the way.”

The noteworthy airings will be celebrated with special media events featuring cast appearances, autograph sessions and more.

“One of the integral reasons for the longevity, success and loyal teen following of Degrassi can be attributed to the realistic world that the show
presents. Degrassi continues to evolve and be relevant to viewers by addressing issues in a realistic way with an outstanding age appropriate
cast,” said Linda Schuyler, Degrassi’s Executive Producer. “We’re excited to share this impending milestone with our broadcast partner CTV, a network who has reached far and wide to support our program and its cast every step of the way.”

“The possibility of recording our 50th consecutive million-plus audience is absolutely flattering,” said Corner Gas Executive Producer Virginia Thompson. “We are incredibly proud of the cast, writers, producers and crew who have made
Corner Gas a hit for so many Canadians. And of course this all wouldn’t be possible without the seemingly bottomless publicity and promotions campaigns undertaken by CTV in support of the series.”

Degrassi: The Next Generation is produced by Epitome Pictures in association with CTV. The series was co-created by Linda Schuyler, co-producer of the
original Degrassi series, and Yan Moore. Schuyler and Stephen Stohn serve as Executive Producers. Kathleen Meek is the CTV production executive working with the series. Bill Mustos is Senior Vice-President, Dramatic Programming for CTV. Susanne Boyce is President of CTV Programming and Chair of the Media Group.

Corner Gas is produced in association with CTV by Prairie Pants Productions, comprised of Virginia Thompson (Incredible Story Studio, renegadepress.com) of Vrit Films and Three Thirty-Five Productions, a partnership of Brent
Butt and David Storey. Louise Clarke is CTV’s Director, Western Independent Production. Brent Haynes is Director of Programming for The Comedy Network. Ed Robinson is Senior-Vice President, Comedy and Variety Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, CTV Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group.